Vietnam War Heritage Trail

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and check in the hotel. Enjoy a city tour include the Reunification Conference Hall (formerly the South Vietnamese Presidential Palace). This building was built from 1962 and accomplished in 1966 by architect Nguyen Van Thu. The building was built in style of letter Cat which means luck and consists of four floors and an underground area. Then proceed to the US Embassy grounds and the War Remnants Museum. In the evening enjoy a welcome dinner at a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City.

Continue our city tour with a prosthetic clinic in Thu Duc and the ward of Long Binh before visiting an industrial park. Afterward, we will proceed to Binh Duong Province and visit the Iron Triangle which had been known as the War Zone D during Vietnam War. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Depart to explore Vung Tau with Long Hoa Pagoda. Long Hoa Pagoda was built 283 years ago and located on the foot of Chan Tien Mountain. During war, the pagoda wasn't destroyed and now its structure is still unchanged from the very first time. Then we will proceed to White Palace or Villa Blanche, a Western style villa located on a hill of the seaside of Vung Tau. During the French colonial days, it was used as the resort for French governors and the place for meeting and party of the French-support administration of Bao Dai. Overnight in Vung Tau City.

Free time to explore Vung Tau city. In the afternoon, we drive back to Ho Chi Minh city.

Start today with a visit to the legend Cu Chi Tunnels. This underground tunnel system was made by the Vietnamese soldiers during the French colonial times for hiding. Inside the tunnels, there are many bamboo traps, camouflaged trap-doors and ways which make this place the real and dangerous maze. Then we will drive to Tay Ninh and visit Cao Dai temples here. Cao Dai - the major religion of Tay Ninh and other southwestern provinces of Vietnam are the combination of Buddhist, Hindu, Islam and many others religions and founded by a French civil servant named Ngo Minh Chieu in 1919. In the afternoon, come back to Ho Chi Minh City and overnight here.

A morning flight will take you to Danang before proceeding to Hoi An. Hoi An was the famous trading port from 16th to 18th century in Vietnam. At that time, this town is the most bustling place where traders from many parts of the world coming to exchange goods, most of them are ceramics. Nowadays, Hoi An is no longer a busy commercial port but a peaceful town with ancient style houses and poetic lake and river. A town tour of Old Town will give you a new image about this place. There isn't any noisy sound but only Chinese style houses with red lanterns and two big eyes at the entrance. After travel through the Old Town, the rest of the day is free at leisure.

Free day at your leisure.

A morning drive will take you to Hue, the old capital of Vietnam and visit the citadel of the Nguyen dynasty, the last feudal regime of Vietnam. We will arrive in Hue in the early afternoon. Then have a delicious lunch in an authentic Hue restaurant before taking a citadel tour. Hue Citadel was built between early 19th and 20th centuries by Nguyen's Lords. This unique complex has a long and thick walls surrounding and many buildings insides which served the emperor and his family. After traveling around the ancient citadel, you will be free at leisure for the rest of the day. Overnight in Hue.

North of Hue is the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, and Quang Tri province, where much of the fighting occurred. This area still bears the scars of the massive bombardments that took place - the few remains of the many camps and combat bases, the barren ground pockmarked with craters, and the tens of thousands of graves in the National Cemetery, are solemn reminders of war. Nearby is the Vinh Moc Tunnels Complex.

Today we drive back to Hue and take a Perfume River boat trip to 16th century Thien Mu Pagoda considered as the oldest pagoda in Hue. Inside, you can see a 21-meter-high tower called Phuoc Duyen, the symbol which is associated with Thien Mu Pagoda and an old car, the relic of a dead monk. Then enjoy a tour of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh's Tombs - the two kings of Nguyen Dynasty and incense making village. Overnight in Hue.

Drive to the Ho Chi Minh Trail - a complex web of jungle paths that enabled communist troops to travel from North Vietnam to areas close to Ho Chi Minh City. Visit Aluoi and Asao, Pako and Tari ethnic national villages, and Hamburger Hill where a fierce battle occurred.

Today we will fly to the north and visit the beautiful capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi. You will be welcome and transferred to the hotel from the airport by our tour guide. A city tour will open your day and Army Museum will be the first stop. Army Museum or Vietnam Military History Museum is the most prominent historical collection of Vietnam War. Outside, there are many military vehicles and weapons, some are captured by Vietnam, and some are Vietnamese weapons. Inside the museum, there are many documents; images of the Vietnam War, the statues of generals and many other artifacts...then travel around the ancient Citadel where Vietnam's army headquarters were situated during the French War.

Visit Hanoi's historic sites such as the "Hanoi Hilton" the nickname of the Hoa Lo Prison made by the American soldiers, B52 lake - a huge lake famous for its downed US B52 bomber, John MC Cain's parachute site, the B52 museum - a small museum in a French colonial style building where you can see a downed US B52 Bomber and other fighters like a 5033 of Vietnam Air Force, Ho Chi Minh Museum - not only a museum of photos and documents about the life and works of Ho Chi Minh but also a giant collection of the history of regaining national independence. Then visit the Presidential Palace - the residence of the president, and the Temple of Literature - the first University of Vietnam dating back a thousand years ago. Afterward, take a cycle tour, before going on an easy walking tour around Hanoi's Old Quarter. End the day with a traditional meal and Water Puppet show.

It takes from three to four hours to Halong Bay for a relaxing two-day cruise on a wooden junk. Halong Bay, one of Seven Wonders of the World, is one of the most prominent sites of North Vietnam. With an area of 1,553 km2, Halong Bay boasts about 2,000 islets. Enjoy lunch with seafood while cruising through thousands of limestone islands. In the afternoon, you have the option of exploring limestone caves and floating fishing villages.

Continue cruising in the morning and enjoy lunch on the way back to the pier, for your afternoon transfer to Hanoi.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. End of tour services.